Saturday, October 31, 2009

Cash for Clunkers cost $24,000 per car

HT: Stephen Smith


Edmunds.com, the premier resource for online automotive information, has determined that Cash for Clunkers cost taxpayers $24,000 per vehicle sold.
http://www.edmunds.com/help/about/press/159446/article.html


The Bellamy Brothers



Thursday, October 29, 2009

I Sent This E-mail Today

The original post was about someone wanting to control others use of what is described as  ""harmful material" – stuff that "appeals to the prurient interest" and is "utterly without redeeming social value for minors"".

My comments come about 22 responses into the discussion.

Trey Garrison Plausibly Undeniable

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Holmes Dissents

Obama Signs Federal Hate Crime Law

http://reason.com/blog/2009/10/28/obama-signs-federal-hate-crime
Today President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard and James Bird Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. At best, it's a feel-good law that will accomplish nothing. At worst, it will undermine the division of powers between the states and the national government by federalizing a wide range of violent crimes, further erode the constitutional ban on double jeopardy by inviting serial prosecutions for the same offense, and impinge on freedom of conscience, freedom of speech, freedom of association, and freedom of religion....


==== 
United States v. Schwimmer, 279 U.S. 644 (1929), was a case decided by the Supreme Court of the United States. It concerned a pacifist applicant for naturalization, Rosika Schwimmer, who in the interview declared not to be willing to "take up arms personally" in defense of the United States. Originally found unable by the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois to take the prescribed oath of allegiance, a decision reversed in appeal, the case was argued before the Supreme Court, which ruled against the applicant, and thus denied her the possibility of becoming a United States citizen.

Significance

The Court placed great emphasis on the interest of the state to foster feelings of nationalism, even though the nationalist beliefs of the country may have some conflict with religious beliefs. The case is best known, however, for Justice Holmes's phrase concerning "freedom for the thought that we hate," which has become a favorite statement of the underlying principles of free speech embodied in the First Amendment.

=====



from Holmes Dissent, Brandeis Concurring, at FindLaw

Some of her answers might excite popular prejudice, but if there is any principle of the Constitution that more imperatively calls for attachment than any other it is the principle of free  thought - not free thought for those who agree with us but freedom for the thought that we hate. I think that we should adhere to that principle with regard to admission into, as well as to life within this country. --





======================================================


United States v. Schwimmer at Religious Freedom Page
United States v. Schwimmer at Justia.com 
United States v. Schwimmer at Wikipedia
Rosika Schwimmer at Wikipedia 

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Beware the hobby that eats. — Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

Game, sideline, venture, project, diversion, something we do on weekends.
Richard Cohen mentions "Whatever Obama decides" and "Obama is paying a price".
http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=510440

Obama ain't payin' SHIT compared to the soldiers.

Cohen chastises Westmoreland for "needless loss of life".

Q: Is Cohen talking strategy or tactics (in Afghanistan) ?
A: ______________________________________________

Q: Would Cohen chastise Lincoln and Wilson?
A: ______________________________________________


Take a look at the highlighting.  The USA seemed to be serious about war.  We considered the alternatives, we counted the costs, we paid the price - to win,  because losing was not an option. 


===============================

Congressional Declaration of War on Japan

December 8, 1941

JOINT RESOLUTION Declaring that a state of war exists between the Imperial Government of Japan and the Government and the people of the United States and making provisions to prosecute the same.

Whereas the Imperial Government of Japan has committed unprovoked acts of war against the Government and the people of the United States of America:

Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That the state of war between the United States and the Imperial Government of Japan which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared;
and the President is hereby authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the United States and the resources of the Government to carry on war against the Imperial Government of Japan;
and, to bring the conflict to a successful termination, all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States.

Approved, December 8, 1941, 4:10 p.m. E.S.T.

====================================================

December 11, 1941
The President's Message

To the Congress of the United States:

On the morning of Dec. 11 the Government of Germany, pursuing its course of world conquest, declared war against the United States. The long-known and the long-expected has thus taken place. The forces endeavoring to enslave the entire world now are moving toward this hemisphere. Never before has there been a greater challenge to life, liberty and civilization. Delay invites great danger. Rapid and united effort by all of the peoples of the world who are determined to remain free will insure a world victory of the forces of justice and of righteousness over the forces of savagery and of barbarism. Italy also has declared war against the United States.

I therefore request the Congress to recognize a state of war between the United States and Germany, and between the United States and Italy.

Franklin D. Roosevelt
The War Resolution

Declaring that a state of war exists between the Government of Germany and the government and the people of the United States and making provision to prosecute the same.

Whereas the Government of Germany has formally declared war against the government and the people of the United States of America:

Therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that the state of war between the United States and the Government of Germany which has thus been thrust upon the United States is hereby formally declared; and the President is hereby authorized and directed to employ the entire naval and military forces of the government to carry on war against the Government of Germany; and to bring the conflict to a successful termination, all of the resources of the country are hereby pledged by the Congress of the United States


http://www.law.ou.edu/ushistory/japwar.shtml

http://www.law.ou.edu/ushistory/germwar.shtml

==============================

 

Friday, October 23, 2009

Peace And The Prize Response


*********************************************************************



Hello Tim,
Thank you for asking the Dallas Peace Center for a response to Mr. O'Neill's essay.  While I am replying in my capacity as President of the Board of the Dallas Peace Center, these are my views and are not to be construed as official policy of the DPC. The mission of the Dallas Peace Center is based on a vision of reconciliation: to promote education, dialogue and action for peace and justice, and all that we do is governed by that mission and our values. 

Mr O'Neill brings up some good points, yet I believe he falls short of recognizing what true peace is.  He seems to limit his definition to conflicts between organizations (government) and its citizens, and where I would expand this definition is to include conflicts between individuals, and ultimately, conflicts within ourselves. You see, the world cannot be at peace until we, as individuals, are at peace.   The government, our elected or appointed officials, are a representation of our collective consciousness, what we believe in as a society is reflected in those we allow to govern us.  Limiting a definition of peace to simply the absence of war or aggression falls far short.  One need only look and you will find many individuals who do not display aggression, but harbor so much anger, resentment, hatred that only the right circumstance need present itself and these people will become violent.  The rate of domestic abuse will give you an indication of just how prolific violence is. 

Furthermore, until we put into place mechanisms that teach people how to resolve conflict in a peaceful, nonviolent way, there is no hope for peace.  Until we teach people that yelling, hitting, bullying, beating and killing their fellow human beings is not acceptable for any reason, until we give them other tools to not only resolve the conflict, but to understand their own needs and feelings, there will not be peace.  Currently, we teach our children that violence and aggression are suitable means to resolve conflict, and until we replace that model with one of nonviolent conflict resolution, this is the only way they will know.  And they will pass this down to their children, just as we have done with ours.  You may say, gee, this sounds good, but it is not practical, not feasible, and I will reply to the contrary, that indeed such a model is workable, and it is happening right now in Costa Rica, where it has been put into law that BePeace is to be taught in every school.  It is happening right now in schools in Washington DC, where Colman McCarthy teaches his "Alternatives to Violence" courses.  And these programs have profound effects.  I'm not naive enough to think all we have to do is turn a switch and make it happen everywhere and all will be well, but these examples are shining hopes of what is possible, of where we can go, of the real possibility of peace.

Of course these principles were recognized millennia ago, and we're still not there.  Lao Tzu, over 2500 years ago, taught:
If there is to be peace in the world,
There must be peace in the nations.

If there is to be peace in the nations,
There must be peace in the cities.

If there is to be peace in the cities,
There must be peace between neighbors.

If there is to be peace between neighbors,
There must be peace in the home.

If there is to be peace in the home,
There must be peace in the heart.

Even the military leader Napoleon recognized the need for resolving conflict at the individual level when he said " If they want peace, nations should avoid the pin-pricks that precede cannon shots." 
 
Mr O'Neill also says to be an advocate for peace "one must oppose the initiation of force . ."  I contend that to be an advocate for peace, one must model the peace, not oppose it.  Opposition merely brings about more resistance, more conflict.  Rather, as Buckminster Fuller taught, we must provide a new model that makes the old model obsolete.  And Gandhi, of course, to be the change we wish to see in the world. 

As to the statements about peace activists being hostile and only opposing large-scale military operations, I submit that first, the idea there are "many" is false, and second, of those that fall into this category, these are not peace activist at all.  Sure, they may take up a sign and march in a group or attend a rally, but are there perhaps only for the novelty.  Just because a person is part of an event does not make them an advocate or a member, it just means they are present.  And yes, some peace events have erupted in violence, but I believe this is the exception, not at all the norm.  Of course when something like this happens, it comes to the forefront and attention of the media, and perhaps hyped-up because it is an oxymoron. 

At the Dallas Peace Center, we provide peacemaker training prior to a public event, to be prepared if any conflict is initiated or develops. 
 
For some additional thoughts, I encourage you to read my Op-Ed "Creating a Culture of Peace":

Now, to address the issue of President Obama and the Nobel Peace Prize. . . .

The author seems to focus on government taking advantage of its citizens and calling this violence.  Personally I don't see it that way. Yes, there are times when various government agencies may be strong-armed in their enforcement or interpretation of the law, the IRS of past years would be a good example. 

We live in a society with agreed upon rules and covenants, some more well-defined than others, and some called laws.  Some are good, some not so good, but we, as citizens, have the mechanism in place to change the laws.  Thing is most people would rather complain about some part of, or an entire law, and rather than work to get it changed, simply gripe about it and say how unfair it is. 

We do not live in a dictatorship, so all the references to President Obama forcing people to give up land or rights or property is simply untrue.   While he may suggest a policy, a course of direction, he cannot on his own do any of these things, this is the job of Congress.  And last time I checked, congressmen and women were elected by us, the citizens, and as such, are accountable to us.  If we abdicate our responsibility and don't call them on what legislation they are or are not supporting, then shame on us.  And to me, that is what has differentiated a Libertarian from other political directions - personal responsibility.   It doesn't mean you can do whatever you want, it means you work together with your community, with your nation, and bring about change, while taking ownership for your part in the process.

To the point of President Obama receiving this award, Mr. O'Neill has not provided any supporting references to his statement that " . . the award goes to those who do their utmost to aggrandize government . ."   This simply does not ring true and is a broad generalization, seemingly to air his disdain for government.   I see the award as an affirmation that those who have a vision of a world at peace are recognized, even though the way to get there may not be realized at the time.  And indeed it is not realized, but unless we hold out hope, unless we value those who are willing to keep the vision alive and in sight, unless we see that others have the same vision in mind, then we will never get there.  We, and our children's children's children, will simply continue with the same violent mindset, the same set of tools that beat down and enslave and oppress our brothers and sisters, the same attitude that condones violence and even killing for whatever reason. 

Let us celebrate the foresight of the Nobel Committee in making this selection, and do our part in moving the vision of peace and nonviolence forward.  The real question is not whether President Obama deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, but what is it that you and I will do to receive the same recognition? 

Again, thank you for this opportunity to reply. 

Len Ellis
President, Board of Directors
Dallas Peace Center

I Don't Heart You

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Senate passed groundbreaking legislation Thursday that would make it a federal crime to assault an individual because of his or her sexual orientation or gender identity.

This bill was created to punish bad states, like Texas, where those guilty of assault were simply jailed and/or fined for their crime.  They'll think twice now before , that's fer sure.

What does this bill do ?  Provides specifications of prison terms and/or fines for the guilty and provides


(b) Grants-
(1) IN GENERAL- The Attorney General may award grants to State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies for extraordinary expenses associated with the investigation and prosecution of hate crimes.

(5) GRANT AMOUNT- A grant under this subsection shall not exceed $100,000 for any single jurisdiction in any 1-year period.


 You read it correctly.  The federal government will be paying the states to enforce this law.  The bill also includes info on how to apply for the grant.

Follow the money.



This writer says the bill is unconstitutional .
http://thecanadiansentinel.blogspot.com/2009/05/obama-hate-crimes-bill-unconstitutional.html



The U.S. Senate passed the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act on Thursday with the controversial Matthew Shepard Act attached. The act would add sexual orientation and gender identity to federal hate crimes laws.

http://thecanadiansentinel.blogspot.com/2009/05/obama-hate-crimes-bill-unconstitutional.html 





We've already got Tyson and Boortz on record as "Haters". It's only gonna get worse.

If this continues, we will be here soon.


via videosift.com

Thursday, October 22, 2009

Lamar Alexander





Started humming a song from 1962 ...

Ain't it funny how the morning moves ?

Waterline ?   Three Shades Darker ?   Circle Lenses ?
I'm munching on bananas and oat meal, searching "Lamar Alexander" "uploaded today" and my demons distracted me with Snow White.  I was fascinated by the artistic process...until my hormones took over and then I was fascinated by her. She's a better actress than that cartoon that first played the part.

I read her YouTube home page  and thought about 1968.  That was the year the family moved to MP while Vic served in Vietnam.  Zane had a room, Sally had a room, and the five boys had a room.  I was still sucking dirt from carpet fibers while my older brothers were sitting in classrooms dealing with the ethnic separatism created a generation earlier by the federal government and it's control of the schools we send our kids to.http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=509831

P.S. Be sure to look at Lamar Alexander
He's the guy that introduced me to Michelle Phan.




============================================================






Wednesday, October 21, 2009

I sent this email today to the Dallas Peace Center



--- On Wed, 10/21/09, tim lebsack wrote:

From: tim lebsack
Subject: Question regarding your philosophy
To: admin@dallaspeacecenter.org
Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 11:52 AM


As a libertarian, one who believes in non-aggression,
"The fundamental axiom of libertarian theory is that no one may threaten or commit violence ("aggress") against another man's person or property. Violence may be employed only against the man who commits such violence; that is, only defensively against the aggressive violence of another." http://mises.org/rothbard/warpeace.asp

I am curious about the Dallas Peace Center's view of this essay

Peace and the "Peace Prize"

by Ben O'Neill.
http://mises.org/story/3786

Some quotes by Mr. O'Neill -
"Real peace requires not merely the absence of large-scale military conflicts, but also the absence of aggression in domestic affairs concerning individual citizens."

"Unfortunately, many of the so-called "peace activists" celebrated for their opposition to wars are hostile to the very social system that would ensure a genuine and lasting peace. In fact, these "peace activists" are not in favor of peace at all. They are merely opposed to certain large-scale military operations."

I thank you for your thoughtful response.

       Tim Lebsack
        Dallas




Libertarians believe that each person owns his own life and property, and has the right to make his own choices as to how he lives his life - as long as he simply respects the same right of others to do the same.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Read 'Em And Weep

This is great news. The price of books is falling.  I'll be able to read more for less, retailers will sell me more books, authors will write more books to feed the demand.
Is this a great country or what ?
I wish Amazon and Wal-Mart would start a price war over gasoline or cherry pie or ice cream or ammunition, all commodities I desire.  Reading makes me happy though so I'm not gonna complain too much. 
The Target at CityPlace is adding more groceries so I am really excited.



http://www.shoppingblog.com/blog/1017094

Wal-Mart and Amazon in Book Pricing War

Amazon.com and Wal-Mart are engaged in all out war: a book price war. Wal-Mart is determined to steal wrong word Amazon.com's business and so has lowered prices on new hardcovers. Amazon.com then matches Wal-Mart's price. Sarah Palin's new book, Going Rogue was marked down to a ridiculously Editorializing. It's obviously not a ridiculous price point for Wal-Mart or they wouldn't do it. low price of $9 by Wal-Mart. Amazon.com followed suit. I might even read her book for 9 bucks.
Wal-Mart triggered the online skirmish Thursday when it began selling its 10 most anticipated hardcovers for $10 apiece when pre-ordered on its Web site. Amazon matched the offer hours later and Wal-Mart then chopped its price to $9. Friday morning Amazon had matched the price.

"I'm worried about the major book-selling chains, and I'm concerned about the implications for publishers and the public alike," said David Young, chief executive of Lagardere SCA's Hachette Book Group, one of the country's largest book publishers Never heard of 'em. He and other publishers ?? said they feared the online pricing could hurt small independent book sellers and big retail chains. It's called competition.

A Walmart.com spokesman said Friday that the discount giant was prepared to make further cuts. Sweet. Now lower the price of beer. The retailer's Web site will continue to adjust its prices, spokesman Ravi Jariwala said in an email, "so that Walmart.com offers the lowest online prices." Late Friday afternoon, it dropped its price a penny, to $8.99.

Walmart.com CEO Raul Vazquez  said in an interview Thursday that the retailer "will go as low as we need to" to underscore Walmart.com's intent to be a low-price leader online. The retailer this month has sought to expand its Web presence, creating an Amazon-like online marketplace for other retailers and offering home delivery for purchases such as shampoo and diapers.
The major publishers and retail chains are quite upset. A spokesman for Hachette said that when major retailers are allowed to sell below cost, the price deflation "Price Deflation" is not a proper term.  A price goes up, down, or remains stable. Deflation is a decrease in the supply of money and credit. destabilizes the market Wrong again. This change that you call a destabilization is a correction. The market is regulating itself.. He noted that in France it is actually illegal to sell books below cost. Charity is illegal in France?  When publishers don't make enough money, they start cutting mid-list authors and won't promote new authors, which means there will be fewer books to choose from. Fallacy. Lower prices raise demand. As demand increases more reading material is published. But it's not just price wars on hardcovers that are hurting the book industry. The lower price of ebooks is also cutting into profit margins. Don't assume though that it will be published archaically as paper and ink. The publishing industry is changing due to the ADVANCE of technology. The market will regulate itself and the adjustment will benefit everyone -  better jobs, valuable money, more efficient transfer of knowledge.

As for independent bookstores, you may have noticed that are becoming more and more rare and the chain bookstores pretty much suck. Soon, they won't exist at all. Speculation, and I will speculate that it is untrue.  It is still possible to buy a slide rule but the market adjusted.  Now, credit card sized electronic calculators can be bought for a song. No one will buy a new Stephen King novel for $35 (full price) when she can buy it from Amazon.com or Wal-Mart for $9 -- especially in this economy.
Right, just like no one pays 40,000 Chinese Dollars for a vehicle that they can buy across the street for 35,000. 

Prices Are Signals — And the Truth of the Message Isn’t Changed by Distorting the Signal -- Don Boudreaux

Friday, October 16, 2009

Microwaved Lunch And National Geographic

I'd given up Banquet Select Recipes($1.67) Beggin' To Be Microwaved Meals for something less exotic, less expensive, the Space Food Sticks lunch of a mere laborer, in this case ConAgra's violently monikered Smothered Meat Patty Meal (10/$10). Dave's Cupboard had yet to review this particular flavor but I risked it all and bought five to last me through the work week.  Here it was Friday lunchtime and I've got non-specific meat, a tomato based gravy, whipped not mashed potatoes, and field corn cut from the cob.  Not as manly as an MRE but considerably less likely to be booby trapped.  Speaking of...

The best available reading material is National Geographic May 2009.
The copy I was holding (topless non-Anglo women) was  reading material for the customer waiting area.

For many years National Geographic was available only by subscription  I'm certain that the decision to change the marketing strategy was well considered by the publishers and happened something like this -
"Let's put the magazine on newstands."
"Make it so."

I recall when that familiar yellow mag first appeared on the rack. Booksellers gathered around the prime retail space face-out display to "Ooooh" and "Aaaaah".  Then we shut the fuck up and went back to work  - such is the cutthroat world of reading material distribution.

NG is geography and by default photography.  They've become so photo conscious that they regularly hold photography contests.  I recommend it highly to any lensman considering a career of capturing images of jungle roaming carnivores.

Everything about the magazine is oriented towards nature, the green movement, the perfection of technologically challenged cultures and the evil that is modern man.  Ad text for Canon photography is a lesson in zoology.  I figure if a photographer can get that close to one of these nimble, self propelled, fur covered nutrient supplements , so can a .25-06.  Hey, it doesn't take much bullet to drop Tenderosus Succulentus.

Originally "a society for the increase and diffusion of geographical knowledge knowledge", the new "purpose is to inspire people to care about their planet."  Such are the changes in American society.

May 2009's Letters to the Editor are a mixture including rants against human lust for gold, the dangers of mercury, a defense of the gold mining industry,  a suggestion, irony of ironies, that we should save every species based on the chance that some day man will find a way to exploit it as a natural resource and the most utilitarian letter, a hangover cure - all natural - Drink Water.  Take that, Prevention !!

Escape From Fort Collins

Another Imposter Impersonates Captain Walker

His parent's build and we wait... only to be disappointed



Until He comes, The One, We will faithfully keep holding out for a hero.

Young Master Heene may never live this down.  He hides in a box, gets sick on television, and then rats out his Dad.  Of course he's just a lad and he's confused as hell about who his real mother is.
I hope he turns out all right, but Falcon Heene, had you really been floating skyward like a disgruntled East German, Would you have tales for the schoolyard.

This is Jeopardy........

A:  The country shut down a money-losing state-owned utility.

It took just hours for the currencies value to rise on news that a huge financial burden had been lifted from the government.

Bloated payrolls, inherited jobs and massive pension benefits explain why this company requires subsidies.

Consumers can expect more reliability and lower costs.

Terminating the waste sends a message that it's no longer business as usual.

The same goes for the left-wing teachers union, which has kept schools among the lowest performers in the hemisphere and deprived the country of an educated work force.



http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article.aspx?id=509251



Q: "What is the United States  of  _________ ?"

"Correct - Choose Again"

Thursday, October 15, 2009

I Sent This Letter To The Dallas Morning News Today

Dear Editors:


Recover.gov's claim that "stimulus funds have saved or created about 1,100 jobs in Texas" is economic fallacy.

If I were to confiscate people's earnings in Fort Worth and then give the money to people in Dallas, no jobs are created.  Even if my new friends spend the unearned money on construction projects, the opportunity cost of the muggings in Fort Worth creates a net loss to the economy, particularly in the case cited in your article, where a middleman drains the coffers before the redistribution and a bureaucrat instead of an entrepreneur decides where to redistribute the money.

Those behind Recover.gov are either victims or perpetrators of the Broken Window fallacy.


Risking assets to satisfy desire creates jobs and wealth. Transferring money only transfers jobs while evaporating wealth.

                 Tim Lebsack
                 Libertarian Party of Dallas County
               

                               

                                              

  

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Laugh Out Loud


Deleted Scene - Star Wars: A New Hope


"I made some friends in the Academy. One of them has a friend who he thinks can put us in touch with the Rebel Alliance. We're going to jump ship in one of the central systems and join the Alliance." ―Biggs Darklighter, to Luke Skywalker
Wookieepedia

ht: The Humble Libertarian

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Robert Reich: What An Honest Presidential Candidate Would Say About Health Reform

"In other words, THIS IS WHAT THE TRUTH IS...."

"This is what the truth is and a candidate will never say, but what candidates should say if we were in a kind of democracy where citizens were honored in terms of their practice of citizenship and they were educated in terms of what the issues were, and they could separate myth from reality in terms of what candidates would tell them."

If you have set yourself on fire, do not run.




http://www.safenow.org/

Police Officer Christopher Lloyd shot Cornel McKinney 24 times....

... but he was not charged because Chicago police accepted his explanation that he had acted in self-defense.
He also is under indictment for rape and got fired from the school where he was moonlighting as a security guard for beating up a student.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-dolton-cop-09-oct09,0,527689.story

McPherson - Close To Home


Monday, October 12, 2009

Test Time

Final Test:
Answer either or both.  Feel free to use any resource.  Your U.S. Congress may be able to provide information. You may work in groups and take as much time as you desire.  (The answer to these questions is not time critical.)



Question 1/2 :
Describe the United States' contemporary use of its military in different regions of the Earth. The primer?, strategy?, goal?, history?, resource input?, product output?, possible conclusion(s)? of the action. Choose at least one military action from each continent, or several from each continent.  You have over 200 to choose from at any one time.

Question 2/2 :
Why did Barack Obama win the Nobel Peace Prize?

Friday, October 9, 2009

Breaking News





A call to action
Friday, October 9, 2009 4:03 PM
From:
"President Barack Obama"
To:
"Tim Lebsack"

Tim --

This morning, Michelle and I awoke to some surprising and humbling news. At 6 a.m., we received word that I'd been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009.

To be honest, I do not feel that I deserve to be in the company of so many of the transformative figures who've been honored by this prize -- men and women who've inspired me and inspired the entire world through their courageous pursuit of peace.

But I also know that throughout history the Nobel Peace Prize has not just been used to honor specific achievement; it's also been used as a means to give momentum to a set of causes.

That is why I've said that I will accept this award as a call to action, a call for all nations and all peoples to confront the common challenges of the 21st century. These challenges won't all be met during my presidency, or even my lifetime. But I know these challenges can be met so long as it's recognized that they will not be met by one person or one nation alone.

This award -- and the call to action that comes with it -- does not belong simply to me or my administration; it belongs to all people around the world who have fought for justice and for peace. And most of all, it belongs to you, the men and women of America, who have dared to hope and have worked so hard to make our world a little better.

So today we humbly recommit to the important work that we've begun together. I'm grateful that you've stood with me thus far, and I'm honored to continue our vital work in the years to come.

Thank you,

President Barack Obama


Paid for by Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National Committee -- 430 South Capitol Street SE, Washington, D.C. 20003. This communication is not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

I'm not saying anything about the Lakewood Library.




Substitute "library" for coffee shop.






=======================================================================





















===================================================================








His syntax isn't perfect but his message is clear.

GrandDad Hull had a Hebrews 10:31 attitude about cattle thieves.
His properties wore "Posted" signs, hanging on every roadside entry gate and the occasional fence line white oak.  Hull was a member of the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association whose name added some authority to the white letters on blue warning painted on the heavy gauge sheet metal.  These signs often bore scars showing that firearms and/or reckless teens were abundant.



A caring Dallas resident in the 4000's of Avondale has a modern plastic yard sign requesting motorist's to drive slowly to protect a child whose play area is close to the street.




This fella from west Texas isn't quite as tactful.